2015 Ford Mustang wins best design award

It’s not even entirely ready for mass-distribution, and it’s already winning awards. The 2015 Ford Mustang was able to nab a Design award at the Detroit auto show, almost a week ago. We’ve seen this car come from the span of complete rumor, to rendered speculation, and now…production & forthcoming burnouts sales. What’s the big deal, you say?

Well, it’s not every day you hear about a regular production muscle/pony car having its 50th birthday, winning Design awards mostly reserved for extreme concepts, and keeping the tradition of American automotive history alive and well, for many miles and years to come. I mean, c’mon, the Camaro kept the heartbeat thumping from 2003 to 2009, right? Sorry, closet bow tie boy & girls; I had to let that one slip out…

Ford Mustang and Volvo Concept Win Design Awards
JAN 2014

DETROIT — The Ford Mustang and Volvo Concept XC Coupe won the annual Eyes on Design awards presented at the Detroit auto show on Tuesday.

The Ford Mustang was named best production vehicle, while Volvo won for best concept vehicle and won another award, new for this year, for innovative use of color, graphics and materials.

The concept represents a reboot of Volvo style by the company’s design chief, Thomas Ingenlath.

The Design Catalyst Award for lifetime work was presented to Hartmut Warkuss, the former design head of Volkswagen. Mr. Warkuss supervised Audi and VW during a career that ran from 1973 to 2003.

His tenure saw the introduction of the landmark Audi 80 and 100 and the fourth-generation Volkswagen Golf and Polo. He was a mentor to the designers J Mays, Freeman Thomas and Peter Schreyer, who together produced the VW Concept One that became the New Beetle and the Audi TT Concept.

In a media release from the group, Mr. Schreyer, president and chief design officer of Hyundai, said that Mr. Warkuss had guided his career.

“I learned a lot from him about car design and how to get a feeling for a brand,” Mr. Schreyer said. “He knew how to develop talent, and many successful designers came out of his era.”

This’s a good year for Volvo. Great concept and innovative color. I am big fan of Volvo C70. It’s a step below most like-priced convertibles for all-around performance, but the C70 is a pleasant, stylish blend of top-down fun and fixed-roof security. I saw it on http://www.warrenhenryvolvo.com and now I must buy it!